Computer table with a fixed tabletop and a rotatable tabletop

ABSTRACT

A computer table includes a circular fixed tabletop, a table frame, and at least one rotatable table unit. An annular guide rail is connected fixedly to an upper portion of the table frame, and is disposed under the fixed tabletop. The rotatable table unit includes: a rotatable tabletop having an inner end portion with a curved end surface which has a curvature radius the same as that of a periphery of the fixed tabletop and which abuts against the periphery of the fixed tabletop; at least one roller connected rotatably to the rotatable tabletop and movable along the guide rail; and a support frame connected fixedly to the rotatable tabletop and provided with a caster unit so as to permit rotation of the rotatable table unit about the fixed tabletop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a computer table, and more particularly to a computer table that includes a fixed tabletop and a rotatable tabletop which can rotate about the fixed tabletop.

2. Description of the Related Art Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional computer table is shown to include a table frame 1, a tabletop 2 for supporting a monitor (not shown), and a horizontal lower support plate 3 for supporting a computer device (not shown).

In some cases, when the user sits and operates a keyboard (not shown) and a mouse (not shown) in front of the conventional computer table, it is necessary to place some common articles (such as papers, compact disks, oraprinter) on the tabletop 2. However, the tabletop 2 of the conventional computer table has a limited top surface area, which cannot satisfy the needs of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a computer table that includes a fixed tabletop and at least one rotatable tabletop which can rotate about and which is adjacent to the fixed tabletop so as to support some common articles thereon.

According to this invention, a computer table includes a circular fixed tabletop, a table frame, and at least one rotatable table unit. The table frame includes a fixed annularguide rail at an upperportion. The fixed tabletop is connected fixedly to the table frame. The annular guide rail is disposed under the fixed tabletop. The rotatable table unit includes: a rotatable tabletop having an outer end portion and an inner end portion that is formed with a curved end surface which has a curvature radius the same as that of a periphery of the fixed tabletop and which abuts against the periphery of the fixed tabletop; at least one roller connected rotatably to a bottom surface of the rotatable tabletop and adjacent to the end surface of the inner end portion of the rotatable tabletop, the roller being movable along the guide rail of the table frame; and a support frame having an upper end that is connected fixedly to the bottom surface of the rotatable tabletop at the outer end portion of the rotatable tabletop, and a lower end that is provided with a caster unit which is adapted to be disposed on the ground so as to permit rotation of the rotatable table unit about the fixed tabletop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional computer table;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a computer table according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, which is viewed from another angle;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a roller is disposed between an annular guide rail of a table frame and a first rotatable table unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a movable rod is positioned relative to a rear post;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a support frame of a second rotatable table unit of the preferred embodiment; and

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are schematic top views of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the positions of the first and second rotatable table units relative to a fixed tabletop are adjusted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a computer table according to this invention is shown to include a fixed tabletop 10, a table frame 20, a horizontal lower support plate 30, a horizontal upper support plate 40, a first rotatable table unit 50, and a second rotatable table unit 50′.

The fixed tabletop 10 is circular, and is used to support a monitor (not shown).

The table frame 20 includes two front posts 21, two rear posts 22, two parallel upper long rails 23, two parallel lower long rails 24, four short rails 25, an annular guide rail 26, and two inverted L-shaped movable rods 27. The front posts 21 have upper end portions that are connected fixedly to the fixed tabletop 10. The rear posts 22 are disposed behind the front posts 21, and have upper end portions that are connected fixedly to the fixed tabletop 10. Each of the upper long rails 23 is connected fixedly to upper end portions of a respective one of the front posts 21 and a respective one of the rear posts 22, and abuts against and is connected fixedly to a bottom surface of the fixed tabletop 10. Each of the lower long rails 24 is connected fixedly to the upper end portions of a respective one of the front posts 21 and a respective one of the rear posts 22, and abuts against and is connected fixedly to a bottom surface of the lower support plate 30. The short rails 25 are connected respectively and fixedly to the front and rear posts 21, 22. Each of the short rails 25 extends in a radial direction of the fixed tabletop 10. The annular guide rail 26 is disposed above and is connected fixedly to the short rails 25, and is disposed under the fixed tabletop 10. The movable rods 27 are mounted telescopically to upper ends of the rear posts 22, and have upper ends that are connected fixedly to a bottom surface of the horizontal upper support plate 40. Each of the movable rods 27 is provided with a spring-loaded ball 271 (see FIG. 4) that is biased into a selected one of a vertical row of positioning holes 221 (see FIG. 4) in the corresponding rear post 22. The spring-loaded ball 271 and the positioning holes 221 constitute cooperatively a positioning device for retaining each of the movable rods 27 at a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to the corresponding rear post 22. As such, the position of the upper support plate 40 relative to the fixed tabletop 10 can be adjusted.

The lower support plate 30 is used to support a computer device (not shown).

The upper support plate 40 can be used to support a printer (not shown) or any other similar device.

Each of the first and second rotatable table units 50, 50′includes a rotatable tabletop 51, 51′, two rollers 52, and a support frame 53. Each of the rotatable tabletops 51, 51′has an inner end portion 511 and an outer end portion 512. Each of the inner end portions 511 is formed with a curved end surface 5111 that has a curvature radius the same as that of a periphery 11 of the fixed tabletop 10 and that abuts against the periphery 11 of the fixed tabletop 10. Each of the rollers 52 is connected rotatably to a bottom surface of the rotatable tabletop 50, 50′, is adjacent to the end surface 5111 of the inner end portion 511 of the corresponding rotatable tabletop 50, 50′, and is movable along the guide rail 26 of the table frame 20. Each of the support frames 53 has an upper end that is connected fixedly to the bottom surface of the rotatable tabletop 51, 51′at the outer end portion 512 of the rotatable tabletop 51, 51′, and a lower end that is provided with a caster unit which is adapted to be disposed on the ground so as to permit rotation of the first and second rotatable table units 50, 50′about the fixed tabletop 10, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

The support frame 53 of the first rotatable unit 50 includes a vertical rod 531 having an upper end connected fixedly to the rotatable tabletop 51, an inverted U-shaped caster-supporting rod 532, and two casters 533 mounted respectively and rotatably on two ends of the caster-supporting rod 532 and constituting the caster unit. Referring to FIG. 6, the support frame 53 of the second rotatable table unit 50′serves as a compact disk-storing unit, and includes a U-shaped plate 534, an inverted U-shaped caster-supporting rod 535, and two casters 536 constituting the caster unit. The U-shaped plate 534 has a vertical back wall 5341 and two parallel vertical sidewalls 5342. The back wall 5341 has an upper end connected fixedly to the bottom surface of the rotatable tabletop 51′. The sidewalls 5342 extend respectively, integrally, and perpendicularly from the back wall 5341 to define a compact disk-storing space between the sidewalls 5342. Each of the sidewalls 5342 has an inner side surface that is formed with a vertical row of outwardly and upwardly inclined pressed ribs 5343. As such, the U-shaped plate 534 permits convenient storage of a plurality of compact disks (not shown) therein. The inverted U-shaped caster-supporting rod 535 is connected fixedly a lower end of the back wall 5341, and has two ends that are mounted respectively and rotatably with the casters 536.

With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims. 

1. A computer table comprising: a circular fixed tabletop; a table frame including a fixed annular guide rail at an upper portion, said fixed tabletop being connected fixedly to said table frame, said annular guide rail being disposed under said fixed tabletop; and at least one rotatable table unit including a rotatable tabletop having an outer end portion and an inner end portion that is formed with a curved end surface which has a curvature radius the same as that of a periphery of said fixed tabletop and which abuts against said periphery of said fixed tabletop, at least one roller connected rotatably to a bottom surface of said rotatable tabletop and adjacent to said end surface of said inner end portion of said rotatable tabletop, said roller being movable along said guide rail of said table frame, and a support frame having an upper end that is connected fixedly to said bottom surface of said rotatable tabletop at said outer end portion of said rotatable tabletop, and a lower end that is provided with a caster unit which is adapted to be disposed on the ground so as to permit rotation of said rotatable table unit about said fixed tabletop.
 2. The computer table as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a horizontal lower support plate, said table frame further including: two front posts having upper end portions that are connected fixedly to said fixed tabletop; two rear posts disposed behind said front posts and having upper end portions that are connected fixedly to said fixed tabletop; two upper long rails, one of said upper long rails being connected fixedly to upper end portions of two of said front and rear posts, the other one of said upper long rails being connected fixedly to upper end portions of the other two of said front and rear posts, said upper long rails abutting against and being connected fixedly to a bottom surface of said fixed tabletop; two lower long rails, one of said lower long rails being connected fixedly to said upper end portions of two of said front and rear posts, the other one of said lower long rails being connected fixedly to said upper end portions of the other two of said front and rear posts, said lower long rails abutting against and being connected fixedly to a bottom surface of said lower support plate; and four short rails connected respectively and fixedly to said front and rear posts, each of said short rails extending in a radial direction of said fixed tabletop, said annular guide rail being disposed above and being connected fixedly to said short rails.
 3. The computer table as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a horizontal upper support plate and a positioning device, said table frame further including two inverted L-shaped movable rods that are mounted telescopically to upper ends of said rear posts and that have upper ends which are connected fixedly to a bottom surface of said upper support plate, said positioning device being disposed between said movable rods and said rear posts for retaining each of said movable rods at a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to a corresponding one of said rear posts so that position of said upper support plate relative to said fixed tabletop can be adjusted.
 4. The computer table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame of said rotatable table unit serves as a compact disk-storing unit, and includes: a U-shaped plate including a vertical back wall having an upper end connected fixedly to said bottom surface of said rotatable tabletop, and two parallel vertical sidewalls extending respectively, integrally, and perpendicularly from said back wall to define a compact disk-storing space between said sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having an inner side surface that is formed with a vertical row of outwardly and upwardly inclined ribs; and an inverted U-shaped caster-supporting rod connected fixedly a lower end of said back wall and having two ends, said caster unit including two casters that are mounted respectively and rotatably on said ends of said caster-supporting rod. 